The first of the 2012 team reviews begins with Ag2r-La Mondiale who have been a stable of the peloton since 1992 but in the past few seasons their presence on the podium has diminished. With only a handful wins in 2012 Ag2r find themselves second last on the team classification in the World Tour standings. With Nicholas Roche and Sébastien Hinault leaving for greener pastures in 2013, next season will be on of change for the French outfit who have also brought in some exciting new riders to chase those elusive wins.
Ag2r-La Mondiale had a slow start to the season with their first stage win coming in May at the Circuit de Lorraine on Stage 3. The French outfit had won the teams classification at the Tirreno-Adriatico in March to begin their season but since then 2012 has proven to be a little disappointing results wise. Nicholas Roche has performed well at the Grand Tours he rode in finishing 12th in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta de España but with the Irishman moving to Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank for 2013, Ag2r could struggle to find the points it needs to stay at the World Tour level. It is currently 17th out of 18 teams and 2013 isn't looking that bright.
Ag2r-La Mondiale made their obligatory appearances at the Grand Tours. At the Giro in May the only top ten result in the final classifications for the team was ninth place in the Team Classification, 1:22:12 off the pace. It was the same story at the Tour unfortunately as the team could only manage tenth in the Team classification at 1:41:15 beyond RadioShack-Nissan. Ag2r didn’t manage a single top ten finisher in any of the stages with 12th the best showing. The total prize money for the team was €27,770, 12th overall in prize money awarded. In the Vuelta de España the team had its best Grand Tour performance of 2012 with top ten finishes in three of the classifications. In the Team Classification the team finished 20:19 in third place behind Movistar, well up in its two previous Grand Tour finishes this season. In the Points Classification Lloyd Mondory accumulated 74 points to finish in ninth place in that classification. However the best rider for the team this season, Roche, managed to finish in sixth place in the Combination Classification to go with his 12th placing in the General Classification.
Across the season Ag2r picked up wins in the smaller races but there achievements are rather minor with only one one-day victory and three stage race victories. The sole one-day victory was won by Sébastien Hinault at the Boucles L’Aulne for a record fourth which along with Stage 3 of the Circuit de Lorraine are his only wins of the season so far. In stage races the team was a little more successful with the Tour of California Stage 6 win by Sylvain Georges the most illustrious victory of the season. Besides Hinault’s stage win, the team also picked up Stage 4 at the Route de Sud which was Manual Belletti’s first win of the season. Belletti’s stage win made it four victories for the team in 2012 and currently the team has won three Mountain Classifications and a Points Classification to make it four win on the road and four wins in individual classifications. The team can add two Team Classifications which is ten wins for the season, an underachieving and disappointing showing after last season which saw John Gadret win Stage 11 at the Giro d'Italia and the first win by Nicholas Roche at a World Tour race. There have been flourishes of success so far in the season with the Vuelta and Route de Sud results the most promising. Ag2r however look certain to finish second last again in the World Tour standings and will struggle to improve upon a poor 2012
Breakout riders: Ben Gastauer became the first Ag2r rider since 2008 to win a national time trial championship as he won his first Luxemburg ITT title. Gastauer was a multiple road race and ITT junior champion of Luxembourg but since he turned pro in 2010 he hasn’t taken that nest step just yet. The national ITT may see him raise in confidence individually and for his team and its an important win in a lean season. There have been no standout riders for the team this season with Hinault’s two stage wins making him stand out just a little more than the others. Roche at the Tour was noticeable but was hanging onto wheels rather than making attacks and forcing riders to follow his wheels. Jean-Christophe Péraud couldn’t emulate his ninth place at last year’s Tour de France falling to a lowly 44th and his best finish this year was a third place at Paris-Nice. Too many riders have had subpar seasons for the team after showing promise.
Disappointing riders: Just as there is no standout rider for Ag2r to single out one rider would be unfair to the whole team. There are some riders who performed worse than other and some were just mediocre. Ag2r have been somewhat of a stereotype French team of recent years. Doing well in smaller races but lacking commitment in the grand tours and big one day races. Europcar and FDJ have been the most successful teams for France recently and have taken the mantle from Ag2r since Christophe Ribon won Stage 14 of the Tour. Several riders are on their way out the team.
How 2013 looks: The Tour of Beijing could be saving grace for Ag2r-la Mondiale and the last chance to grab some significant points for the team. With Roche taking his points to Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank the team may look to Gadret or Hinault to chase stage wins but as Hinault is off to IAM Cycling the route to these wins may prove elusive. Along with Hinault the riders confirmed to be leaving the team so far are Martin Elmiger, Kristof Goddaert and Romain Lemarchand. However there are some good riders coming in as well of whom some are proven winners. Samuel Dumoulin has won a Tour stage in the past but hasn’t been a prolific winner in the past. The most exciting signings for the team are Davide Appollonio from Sky and Yauheni Hutarovich from FDJ-Big Mat who can give the team at least two wins each and try to push Ag2r into double figure wins for the season. Julian Kern may prove to be worth addition as well, possibly chasing smaller wins at first
The incoming riders to Ag2r-La Mondiale will help to offset the losses of Roche and Hinault. However the team needs at least another 5 wins for the season and try to make it into double figures. This season chasing classification wins but these need to compliment wins and not substitute for them. The highs of the past when Rinaldo Nocentini wore yellow for eight stages in 2009 is something the team needs to aspire to and replicate. Ag2r will still be one of the lower ranked World Tour teams in 2013 as they find themselves at the crossroads as to whether they can start to accumulate wins or remain a five wins per season team.
Ag2r-La Mondiale had a slow start to the season with their first stage win coming in May at the Circuit de Lorraine on Stage 3. The French outfit had won the teams classification at the Tirreno-Adriatico in March to begin their season but since then 2012 has proven to be a little disappointing results wise. Nicholas Roche has performed well at the Grand Tours he rode in finishing 12th in both the Tour de France and the Vuelta de España but with the Irishman moving to Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank for 2013, Ag2r could struggle to find the points it needs to stay at the World Tour level. It is currently 17th out of 18 teams and 2013 isn't looking that bright.
Ag2r-La Mondiale made their obligatory appearances at the Grand Tours. At the Giro in May the only top ten result in the final classifications for the team was ninth place in the Team Classification, 1:22:12 off the pace. It was the same story at the Tour unfortunately as the team could only manage tenth in the Team classification at 1:41:15 beyond RadioShack-Nissan. Ag2r didn’t manage a single top ten finisher in any of the stages with 12th the best showing. The total prize money for the team was €27,770, 12th overall in prize money awarded. In the Vuelta de España the team had its best Grand Tour performance of 2012 with top ten finishes in three of the classifications. In the Team Classification the team finished 20:19 in third place behind Movistar, well up in its two previous Grand Tour finishes this season. In the Points Classification Lloyd Mondory accumulated 74 points to finish in ninth place in that classification. However the best rider for the team this season, Roche, managed to finish in sixth place in the Combination Classification to go with his 12th placing in the General Classification.
Across the season Ag2r picked up wins in the smaller races but there achievements are rather minor with only one one-day victory and three stage race victories. The sole one-day victory was won by Sébastien Hinault at the Boucles L’Aulne for a record fourth which along with Stage 3 of the Circuit de Lorraine are his only wins of the season so far. In stage races the team was a little more successful with the Tour of California Stage 6 win by Sylvain Georges the most illustrious victory of the season. Besides Hinault’s stage win, the team also picked up Stage 4 at the Route de Sud which was Manual Belletti’s first win of the season. Belletti’s stage win made it four victories for the team in 2012 and currently the team has won three Mountain Classifications and a Points Classification to make it four win on the road and four wins in individual classifications. The team can add two Team Classifications which is ten wins for the season, an underachieving and disappointing showing after last season which saw John Gadret win Stage 11 at the Giro d'Italia and the first win by Nicholas Roche at a World Tour race. There have been flourishes of success so far in the season with the Vuelta and Route de Sud results the most promising. Ag2r however look certain to finish second last again in the World Tour standings and will struggle to improve upon a poor 2012
Top five results of Ag2r-La Mondiale in 2012:
Tirreno-Adriatico Team Classification
Tour of California Stage 6 Lloyd Mondory
Tour de Suisse Mountains Classification Matteo Montaguti
Tour de Sud Team Classification
Tour de Sud Stage 4 & Points Classification Manual Belletti
Breakout riders: Ben Gastauer became the first Ag2r rider since 2008 to win a national time trial championship as he won his first Luxemburg ITT title. Gastauer was a multiple road race and ITT junior champion of Luxembourg but since he turned pro in 2010 he hasn’t taken that nest step just yet. The national ITT may see him raise in confidence individually and for his team and its an important win in a lean season. There have been no standout riders for the team this season with Hinault’s two stage wins making him stand out just a little more than the others. Roche at the Tour was noticeable but was hanging onto wheels rather than making attacks and forcing riders to follow his wheels. Jean-Christophe Péraud couldn’t emulate his ninth place at last year’s Tour de France falling to a lowly 44th and his best finish this year was a third place at Paris-Nice. Too many riders have had subpar seasons for the team after showing promise.
Disappointing riders: Just as there is no standout rider for Ag2r to single out one rider would be unfair to the whole team. There are some riders who performed worse than other and some were just mediocre. Ag2r have been somewhat of a stereotype French team of recent years. Doing well in smaller races but lacking commitment in the grand tours and big one day races. Europcar and FDJ have been the most successful teams for France recently and have taken the mantle from Ag2r since Christophe Ribon won Stage 14 of the Tour. Several riders are on their way out the team.
How 2013 looks: The Tour of Beijing could be saving grace for Ag2r-la Mondiale and the last chance to grab some significant points for the team. With Roche taking his points to Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank the team may look to Gadret or Hinault to chase stage wins but as Hinault is off to IAM Cycling the route to these wins may prove elusive. Along with Hinault the riders confirmed to be leaving the team so far are Martin Elmiger, Kristof Goddaert and Romain Lemarchand. However there are some good riders coming in as well of whom some are proven winners. Samuel Dumoulin has won a Tour stage in the past but hasn’t been a prolific winner in the past. The most exciting signings for the team are Davide Appollonio from Sky and Yauheni Hutarovich from FDJ-Big Mat who can give the team at least two wins each and try to push Ag2r into double figure wins for the season. Julian Kern may prove to be worth addition as well, possibly chasing smaller wins at first
The incoming riders to Ag2r-La Mondiale will help to offset the losses of Roche and Hinault. However the team needs at least another 5 wins for the season and try to make it into double figures. This season chasing classification wins but these need to compliment wins and not substitute for them. The highs of the past when Rinaldo Nocentini wore yellow for eight stages in 2009 is something the team needs to aspire to and replicate. Ag2r will still be one of the lower ranked World Tour teams in 2013 as they find themselves at the crossroads as to whether they can start to accumulate wins or remain a five wins per season team.
*The end of the season was soured by Steve Houanard failing a doping test on the 9th of October for EPO.
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